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PHUKET: Officials investigating accusations of cruelty at an elephant camp north of Phuket today found a dead gibbon and a live 120 kilo crocodile, both animals apparently being used for photo opportunities.
''Tourists complained of animals being 'tortured' and it appears there is probably some justification for that,'' said Phuket-based Tourism and Sport director, Santi Pawai, who raided the Khao Lak Elephant Camp this afternoon.
''The permit for the business and for using four elephants there appeared to be in order.
''Tourists complained that the gibbon was being poorly treated and by the time we got to the camp, it was dead.''
The crocodile was still alive but the people who ran the camp had no permit to keep it there. The same applied for the gibbon, a protected species.
Khun Santi, who visited the camp with Phang Nga Livestock Office staff, National Parks rangers and the Royal Thai Navy, said charges would be laid against the camp's owner over the illegal possession of the crocodile and the gibbon and the death of the gibbon.
''Tourists complained of animals being 'tortured' and it appears there is probably some justification for that,'' said Phuket-based Tourism and Sport director, Santi Pawai, who raided the Khao Lak Elephant Camp this afternoon.
''The permit for the business and for using four elephants there appeared to be in order.
''Tourists complained that the gibbon was being poorly treated and by the time we got to the camp, it was dead.''
The crocodile was still alive but the people who ran the camp had no permit to keep it there. The same applied for the gibbon, a protected species.
Khun Santi, who visited the camp with Phang Nga Livestock Office staff, National Parks rangers and the Royal Thai Navy, said charges would be laid against the camp's owner over the illegal possession of the crocodile and the gibbon and the death of the gibbon.
... Crocodile still is barely alive, so that qualifies as enough to pass like OK conditions ..?
Posted by Sue on November 24, 2014 23:10